Kolkata, March 17: The Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency is a significant seat among the 42 parliamentary areas in West Bengal, reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). It primarily spans the Hooghly district, including six assembly segments from Hooghly and one from West Medinipur. Key areas include Haripal, Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Arambagh (SC), Gohgat (SC), Khanakul, and Chandrakona. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four out of seven segments here.
This region is predominantly agricultural, with rice, potatoes, and jute as major crops. The jute industry plays a crucial role in the local economy. However, flooding is a recurring issue, often devastating farmers once or twice a year.
The Arambagh block covers approximately 269 square kilometers, with a population of around 285,000 as per the 2011 census. The population density stands at 942 people per square kilometer, and the literacy rate is about 79%, with men outpacing women in education. Historically and culturally rich, this area is also known as the birthplace of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Radhanagar.
Politically, from 1980 to 2009, this seat was a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], often referred to as the ‘Red Fort.’ Leaders like Anil Basu were elected multiple times from here. In 2009, CPI(M)’s Shakti Mohan Malik won, but the Trinamool Congress (TMC) posed a tough challenge. In 2014, TMC’s Aparupa Poddar (also known as Afrin Ali) defeated Malik by a significant margin. In 2019, Poddar again secured victory, narrowly beating BJP’s Tapan Kumar Roy by just 1,142 votes. The election was extremely close, with TMC receiving 44.15% and BJP 44.08% of the votes.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are expected to witness another fierce contest between TMC and BJP. Voting will take place on May 20, with an anticipated turnout of around 82-85%. TMC candidate Mithali Bag defeated BJP’s Arup Kanti Digar by a mere 6,399 votes, garnering 712,587 votes (45.71%) against Digar’s 706,188 votes (45.30%). CPI(M)’s Biplab Kumar Moitra finished third with approximately 92,500 votes. This victory was crucial for TMC, especially as BJP has been attempting to strengthen its foothold in the region.
In the 2021 assembly elections, BJP won four out of seven segments, raising concerns for TMC. The BJP has increased its grassroots presence and questioned TMC’s development initiatives.
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